The Sorceress: Blossoming Power

The whole field outside the city spun into a chaotic turn. Soldiers surrounded each Chiangda wherever they stood.

A large group of soldiers attacked Lofey, who swung his arms to hit the men with his sheathed sword. When the attack was not a success, the soldiers jumped and piled on top of him to keep him from moving. Yet, his huge build was not just for a show. With a strong yell along with his strong legs, he exerted to stand and throw them out from him.  

Tyriece hit the charging men's feet with his pebbles, slowing their movements but more men followed. He had to recall the pebbles back to reuse them.

Gib and Ming let their winds blow the soldiers to the forest. Yet, they would stand again and charge back. It was an endless cycle for everyone.

Lifen saw her hand moving to stab Ming. She wailed deep inside and tried to stop it. She rather points the sword to her heart than to Ming. Mafan felt her resistance and stared daggers at her until her willpower lost. 

"Arrgh!" She yelled deep inside as her hand made a down slash at Ming's side. At the last minute, she was able to resist and the wound was not too deep but it bled, anyway. Mafan triumphed as Ming knelt down, trusting it was a fatal cut and the governor would die, eventually. Hence, his mind settled on General Lofey. 

Knowing she could fight just a little against Mafan's control, Lifen didn't move from where her body ended, lying on a pile of hay near the gate. The son was so caring and made sure she landed on a safe place although he was in pain. 

Mafan was too busy to handle a lot of people and did not mind her absence from the field. Relief suffused her being when she wasn't told to do anything. While lying, she tried to break out from Mafan's control.

At this moment, Mafan ordered Anghus to go somewhere and make another illusion trap, a large one enough for a bargaining chip. 

----- o -----

Xinyi saw Mafan was running towards the open field. Ming and the other were not far. She also saw Lifen, Zhai, Anghus and the soldiers was right behind them and out from the trance. However, her eyes narrowed when they attacked again.

She saw a good deal from above. However, she didn't see when Lifen attacked Ming. Her full attention was on Mafan. "Nianshi, capture that Mafan." 

Mafan saw a flying figure looming. He looked up and eyed the condor and its master. "Shit, a beast tamer. This is not good." He faced the trees, thinking of running there for shelter but changed direction to where the soldiers were. 

Nianshi swooped down and was about to catch the running Mafan but a group of soldiers swiftly surrounded his target. He hid his charging claws in time from piercing the soldiers. He growled in anger and wanted to blow fire at the crouching man in the middle but kept the bubbling hate within, for the innocent's sake.

The lost chance also troubled Xinyi. She let the unseen Hutyuns to make a transparent rope to tie Mafan and hoist him up in the air. However, to her dismay, the Hutyuns reminded her. "My queen, we can't go near him. A greater force stopped us from touching the man."

"I have to catch the guy. what must I do? I thought your power is all base from me only but this happened. What is wrong? Is this thing stronger than my so-called Sorceress powers?" Xinyi voiced her confusion and desperation.

"No, you're greater, oh queen. Please, don't be angry. We also don't know." The Hutyuns cried out, as they knelt on air around her.

"My lady, they're not at fault. It's you who's lacking. You can handle that power in that person, but you let it overwhelm you. That's what keeping the wee beings from advancing."

"Ugh," she sighed as her shoulders slouched. "Sorry, but I don't know if I'm doing that. What should I do then?" 

"Concentrate and try subduing that unseen force. Don't doubt. Don't hesitate. Don't give up. Believe in yourself. Believe in what you can and able to do. You are above that power. Make it obey you."

Xinyi closed her eyes and relive the experience the first time she had become one with the Hutyuns. It was all about complete trust, trusting each other with no shred of doubt left in her.

"My Hutyuns, trust me. You can move beyond that strong power because we are stronger than that. Believe in me." She said to them, but the message was mainly for herself, to build her self-confidence.

The Hutyuns moved again and formed into an invincible rope and rounded on Mafan. They moved around his feet and were about to tie it but…

"Oh, no, the people are coming out from the city," Tyriece shouted, distracting Xinyi's concentration and swiftly looked toward the gate. 

"Ahh!" the Hutyuns cried as they instantly flew up like a rubber band recoiling back to Xinyi's side. However, she didn't mind. Rather, her heart thumped wildly as she saw Lei An standing at the gate with the rest of the people. Then, out of nowhere, they heard a deafening *Wham!* reverberating. 

They all squinted while covering their ears as the sound vibrated inside their heads, including the controlled men. Xinyi cupped her ears as hard as she could. Nianshi had to fly higher to escape the sound waves. The unseen ripples gave them a throbbing headache. Mafan had not escaped the sound either. Gib and Ming, who already had injuries caved in and vomited blood.

What they heard was the illusion trap taking effect, trapping the whole city and everyone inside into the endless dream.